Ombudsman orders suspension of PNP chief Purisima over ‘anomalous’ PNP contract

 General
Dec 032014
 
Ombudsman orders suspension of PNP chief Purisima over ‘anomalous’ PNP contract

“Upon receipt, [the] DILG secretary must immediately implement,” he added. At present, Purisima is also facing two plunder complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged hidden wealth. He is currently under fire for his sprawling resthouse in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, and the allegedly questionable renovation of the PNP chief’s official quarters inside Camp Crame. Aside from Purisima, also suspended for six months without pay pending administrative investigation are: Police Director Gil Meneses, former chief of the Civil Security Group; and  former officials of the PNP Firearms Explosive Office: P/C Supt. Raul Petrasanta, P/C Supt. Napoleon Estilles, P/SSupt. Allan Pareno, P/SSupt. Eduardo Acierto, P/SSupt. Melchor Reyes, P/SSupt. Lenbell Fabia, P/Supt. Sonia Calixto, P/CInps. Nelson Bautista, P/SInsp. Ford Tuazon, and P/CInsp. Ricardo Zapata. AK-47 Aside from this, Rafanan said Petrasanta and others will also face preventive suspension of six months in connection with the ongoing probe on the missing AK-47 firearms. He noted that the order may simultaneously be implemented with the first preventive suspension in connection with the alleged anomalous courier service contract. He added that only Meneses, Rentoy, and Estilles are not included in the second order “because the Ombudsman noted that they are already retired.” — RSJ/KG, GMA News

Optimizing working capital levels

 Economy
Dec 032014
 

IN THE FIRST part of our series on working capital management (published in the November 20 issue of this column), we discussed the importance of working capital management as a key driver to achieve an optimal valuation. Whether or not a company is thinking of divesting, working capital management strategies should be carefully formulated, implemented throughout the organization, and regularly reviewed.

Gov’t sets P20.1-B floor price for Calax

 General
Dec 032014
 
Gov’t sets P20.1-B floor price for Calax

Cavite-Laguna Expressway Route Map www.dpwh.gov.ph The government is implementing a “shorter” single-stage bidding process for the re-auction of the 45-kilometer Cavite Laguna Expressway (Calax) public private partnership (PPP) deal, according to Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson. Singson said Wednesday that those guidelines, along with a P20.1-billion “floor price,” would be part of the new terms, which will likely be published within the month. The bid submission, as previously reported, was still slated for May 2015, he said. A single-stage process means qualification, technical and financial bids will be submitted and evaluated at the same time versus a two-stage process, when these are separately submitted. The Department of Public Works and Highways is waiting for the “final and executory decision from the Office of the President on the President’s directive to rebid Calax.” This would signal the start of the rebid process, Singson said. The P20.1-billion floor price matches the offer of a unit of San Miguel Corp., which was disqualified by the DPWH bids and awards committee last June because of a technical error. That decision was appealed by SMC and the disqualification, in an order by President Aquino last Nov. 19, was reversed. Apart from the SMC subsidiary, the three other original bidders were the tandem between Ayala Corp. and Aboitiz Land Inc., which was the original frontrunner although its bid was P8.4-billion short of SMC’s offer, a unit of Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Malaysia’s AlloyMTD Group. Malacañang ordered a rebid because of Read More …

Let’s meat at Outback Steakhouse

 General
Dec 032014
 
Let’s meat at Outback Steakhouse

The steak-lover’s steak: Outback Steakhouse’s rib eye steak is well-marbled, juicy and savory. While some entrepreneurs need to hunt for the right business idea that would set them on the path to success, there are those who luckily get theirs just by watching TV.  “Crocodile Dundee to be exact,” says Outback Steakhouse Southeast Asia chairman Prasoon Mukherjee with an impish grin over lunch at the newly opened Outback Steakhouse in BluebayWalk, Pasay City. Prasoon is referring to Chris Sullivan, one of the founders of the largest steakhouse chain in the world, who at 48 took an early retirement to start his own restaurant named after the vast remote Australian outback. Contrary to popular belief, Outback Steakhouse is actually a popular American brand that originated in Florida where Sullivan comes from. An avid fan of Crocodile Dundee, Sullivan was inspired to put up a restaurant similar to the local pub owned by Dundee’s business partner Walter “Wally” Reilly. And so, he immediately called his friend, chef Tim Gannon — who was working somewhere else — and asked him to fly over to Florida to conceptualize the menu and get things started. “Unfortunately, Tim didn’t have enough money to buy a plane ticket. An ardent polo player, he sold his saddle for US$200 and booked a flight to Florida the next day. Tim and Chris are good friends. They trusted each other. I guess that’s the secret to the brand’s success. It’s built on trust and hard work,” adds Prasoon, who bought Read More …

Essential service plus comforts at Go Hotels

 General
Dec 032014
 
Essential service plus comforts at Go Hotels

At the opening of Go Hotels in Ortigas Center are Robinsons Hotels & Resorts general manager Elizabeth D. Gregorio, Pasig City Mayor Maribel A. Eusebio, Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) president Frederick D. Go and Ortigas Center Association Inc. (OCAI) general manager Victor Buencamino. MANILA, Philippines – Can you get a pleasant hotel room with good service in a central business district for P2,388 or less? A block away from Robinsons Galleria is the eighth branch of Go Hotels, which is the chain’s foray into the Ortigas Center. The 198-room hotel is located at Robinsons Cyberscape Alpha building on the busy stretch of Garnet Road. It’s a comfortable and safe walk to corporate offices, banks and shopping centers, transport hubs and a few kilometers away from top hospitals. Go Hotels is the “essential-service” hospitality brand of Robinsons Hotels & Resorts, Robinsons Land Corporation’s leisure and hospitality arm. All the properties are furnished with Windsor beds that provide back support, high-thread-count sheets and duvets, chiropractic and fiberfill pillows to ensure the best sleep. When freshening up, the double hot showers come with a packet of soap and shampoo. Unlike other budget hotels that charge for additional conveniences, Go Hotels offer free WiFi, cable television on large LED screens and a safety deposit box as part of its hospitality. “We are known as a no-frills hotel, but we don’t compromise on comfort,” says Elizabeth Gregorio, general manager of Robinsons Hotels & Resorts. Ensuring the best sleep: The spacious rooms in Go Hotels are Read More …

Meet & Greet: Gap 69

 Entertainment
Dec 032014
 
Meet & Greet: Gap 69

STREET Band Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steven Van Zandt famously said in a tribute to Clarence Clemons on his syndicated radio show: “Band members have a special bond. A great band is more than just some people working together. It’s like a highly specialized army unit, or a winning sports team. A unique combination of elements that becomes stronger together than apart.” This quote would somehow describe the band Gap 69 has for each other, for their music, they are like joint in the hip, they work as a team, they love like siblings. I had a chance of seeing their performances in some weddings and corporate events and I would definitely tell you they can capture your attention. Members include Kenneth and Cassie (vocals), RJ (Guitar) Robert (Bass), and Yoyong (Beatbox/Drums). The band was formed in December of 2011, originally known as “Musifier.” But Cassie said: “We had to replace the original guitarist who claimed that he created the name so we had to replace it too. The name was created October 4, 2012 when we had a gig at Abreeza Resto Row and we had to be introduced. We were facing GAP (Retail Company) store’s logo that says GAP 1969. Ken and I immediately asked the rhythm section if we can be named GAP69 and the rest is history.” And although these vocalists Ken and Cassie are composers in their own right, they do mostly covers for their gigs. But what I like about them is Read More …

LTFRB has new hotline for five-man complaints desk

 News
Dec 032014
 
LTFRB has new hotline for five-man complaints desk

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has a new hotline number for commuters who want to complain against public utility vehicles, GMA News’ 24 Oras reported on Wednesday. The new hotline number, 459-2129, is the agency’s way to improve their service. Commuters interviewed by GMA News claimed that the agency did not respond to their text messages or calls to the LTFRB hotline. There are only five staff members of the LTFRB public assistance and complaints desk, including those who is tasked to answer the phone. “Sabihin na natin kulang kami sa staff… Hindi lang siguro sa budget kasi sa government kapag magdadagdag ka ng isang plantilla position ihahain mo pa ito sa DBM (Department of Budget and Management), inaabot pa ng ilang taon bago maibalik kung napaboran o hindi,” LTFRB public assistance and compaints desk head Arnel del Rio said. The agency has received 3,181 compaints so far this year, but 74 percent of complainants decided not too pursue the case as LTFRB requires complainants to file formal compalints in their office. —Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/NB, GMA News

UCLA Pilipino Alumni renames its Scholarship Program

 Entertainment
Dec 032014
 
UCLA Pilipino Alumni renames its Scholarship Program

UCLA Pilipino Alumni Board Members from left to right: JP Schumacher, Rose Lyn Castro, Bobby Rimas, Rex Sampaga, and Steffi Yutan On Tuesday, November 18th, the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association Board of Directors held a dinner at Park’s Finest Restaurant in Los Angeles to celebrate the renaming of their scholarship program to the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Lovell Sevilla Scholarship Program.  The dinner is the first event of a renewed scholarship campaign to strengthen the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Endowment and to honor Ms. Lovell Sevilla, who served as the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Director from 1995 through 2000 and was instrumental in establishing the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Endowment.  Ms. Sevilla also served as a UCLA student counselor for more than two decades.  In 2010, she was awarded the UCLA Chancellor’s Excellence in Service Award for expanding diversity in the UCLA Honors Programs and in 2011, became the UCLA director of counseling.  In August 2014, Ms. Sevilla died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a 9-month battle to acute myeloid leukemia.  Students who were counseled by Ms. Sevilla remember her dedication to help them in any way she could. Bobby T. Rimas, the current UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Director stated, “Adding Lovell’s name is very fitting for the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship program as it honors her passion and commitment to helping deserving students.  It is our hope that this campaign will take the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Scholarship Endowment to the next level by eventually serving more students and Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries